My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 1034 - 1036: The Things That Happened

"My apologies for not affording you the opportunity to know. I presumed you would never engage in a war council with demons."

A frigid tone emanated from his uncle, Cassian Brightwater, who stood nearby. Beside him lingered a dark-skinned young man, unmistakably Jarvis, the family's designated assassin.

Damon inclined his head slightly, realizing his uncle truly believed he harbored such intense hatred for demons.

In truth, he felt no such animosity; his actions were merely a performance.

The golden-haired man's gaze remained fixed on the dark-haired youth. After a brief hesitation, the young man finally murmured,

"It matters not. I am indifferent to it."

A barb of bitterness laced Damon's voice, a subtle undertone that did not escape notice.

Duke Cassian took a seat beside Damon and then directed his attention to Seras.

"Lady Blade, do you not possess your own designated seat? This particular area is reserved for my daughter, and you are occupying her place."

Seras rose, offered a slight bow, and then proceeded to the section designated for those of the Seventh Class.

While the duke himself was not within the Seventh Class, his proximity to it seemed to grow with each passing moment. Nevertheless, he was not a being of Seras Blade's caliber, capable of breaching such a rank through sheer force alone.

As the lights dimmed and the war council commenced, he cast a glance toward Damon.

A designated speaker was selected and began to detail the current battlefield situation. Frankly, the address was rather tedious, focusing on logistics such as food provisions, infrastructure development, supply chain management, armament production, and reconnaissance of new territories.

Three hours elapsed, yet no truly pivotal information was conveyed. The proceedings felt akin to a protracted and uninspired seminar, despite the apparent attentiveness of all present. Even Evangeline, who had arrived somewhat late due to Ranar's involvement, was diligently taking notes.

"What exactly transpired over these past three years?"

His uncle, without diverting his gaze from the proceedings, began to whisper in a low tone as the speaker continued.

"We continued the conflict. Upon our return to the battlefield, the outsiders had vanished, but they left behind a stark warning. Even those among us in the Seventh Class, during advancement, remained vulnerable to their lethality, which they demonstrated with alarming ease."

Cassian paused, his cold eyes glinting with an intensity sharper than any blade.

"Ironically, we engaged in skirmishes and battles for an entire year. We were aware of a more formidable enemy looming, yet our focus remained on combating the demons instead."

"Indeed, and now the war has seemingly shifted to Soltheon, with demons being welcomed to our war council," Damon remarked, his tone devoid of inflection. This led Cassian to believe his nephew was attempting to conceal his irritation.

"That is an unfortunate development, but our supply lines became unsustainable, and the high command ordered a strategic withdrawal. The war had become prohibitively expensive, and both factions gradually lost the resolve for further bloodshed."

Damon expressed surprise; he had anticipated the war's continuation for a more extended period.

"Approximately six months into our redeployment, while stationed near the demon city of Trace, a contingent of outsiders managed to break free, aided by individuals within Lysithara. They even succeeded in resurrecting Ythar, the very outsider whose deceased form constitutes the Whispering Forest."

Evangeline's voice interjected, her words sending a chill down Damon's spine.

"The situation escalated direly."

She commenced recounting the events that unfolded, and with each detail Damon absorbed, his complexion grew paler.

Ythar, an outsider vanquished by Vathren, the Lord of Lysithara, had proven so potent that even its corpse transformed into a zone of death. Ittorath apparently revived it through a ritual involving the sacrifice of three other outsiders.

Ythar, accompanied by several other resurrected outsiders, began to disseminate a corrupting blight, twisting both humans and demons into grotesque abominations.

While demons exhibited a greater resilience to this corruption, allowing them to endure longer, their resistance was not absolute.

Entire demon cities succumbed to the spreading corruption, becoming lands infested with its influence, and Ythar continued its relentless pursuit.

Faced with this existential threat, the demon army proposed a truce until the common enemy was eradicated. Remarkably, the goddess races secretly accepted this unprecedented offer.

"Officially, we suffered a defeat on the demon continent, and the demons established a foothold on Soltheon; however, this is a fabrication. The true objective is to launch an assault on the outsiders' primary base of operations," Evangeline disclosed in a whisper just as the speaker presented schematics of the region surrounding Lysithara, initiating their explanation.

"The demon forces are present to advance their own interests, naturally, and we occupy the opposing side. Publicly and officially, we remain engaged in conflict with the demons, but the reality could not be more different. We have been compelled to forge an alliance with our ancient adversaries to confront a greater existential threat," his uncle elaborated.

Damon pressed his fingers against his forehead, raising an eyebrow.

"I grasp the strategic and political ramifications of this accord, but how did the Temple consent to such an arrangement without condemning everyone involved as heretics?"

"Actually," Evangeline turned towards him slowly, "they were the ones who initiated the proposal. The ruling powers merely accepted before they had the chance to formally extend their offer. Since the demons acted first, we held the advantage during the negotiations."

Damon rested his hand on his chin, contemplative.

"I wonder if they sought permission from the goddess, or is this merely a political maneuver."

She offered a shrug; it truly didn't concern her.

"Focus. The next segment is crucial."

The speaker finally brought attention to the most frustrating and insurmountable barrier hindering any siege upon Lysithara.

"This is the Ashergon Nest."

Upon uttering this name, everyone abruptly halted their movements. Damon surveyed his surroundings and detected palpable fear, so thick in the atmosphere it was almost discernible by scent.

Indeed, the Ashergon Nest lay in their path, and it would never permit passage, especially for those at higher cultivation levels.

This was part of the reason why, back when they were stranded in Lysithara, he couldn't rely on the academy or the individuals in the Seventh Class for rescue.

The Ashergon obstruction was to blame.

'Ah, so the reptile still lives,' Ashcroft's voice resonated within his mind.

"They can forget about departing Lysithara with Ashergon blocking their way."

"For this operation, we shall divide the army into several divisions. I will be designating the leaders for each. The objective is to guide your troops through the Duhu Mountains and past the Ashergon Nest."

The speaker briefly lowered their gaze to a document.

"If your name is called, please stand. You will be assigned command of a division."

"Xander Ravenscroft."

"Bakemon Baal."

"...."

"Simon Agares."

"..."

"Terra Hightower..."

"..."

"Evangeline Brightwater..."

".... Leona ...."

Names were announced, each belonging to an individual renowned in their own right. Finally, after a few more divisions were allocated, the last name was called.

"Damon Grey."

Damon raised his hand subtly and declared with a clear, resonant voice,

"I decline. Thank you very much."